I used to enjoy coming here for the Thai food which, by Brooklyn standards, was pretty good. The Thai food has now been replaced by Korean fare and is still cooked and prepared in the basement.
The first thing that hits you upon entering this establishment are fumes of disinfectant. It's the quintessential brooklyn bar smell. Nothing else takes me back so succinctly to the summers spent fretfully feeling sick in a bar waiting for a date to turn up, unsure of whether it was nerves or the bleachy vapours making me queazy. Now I get a a strange kind of nostalgic comfort from the aroma. And then moments later a sense of disappointment and abandonment...
Wading past the drinkers at the bar and the DJ thumb-scrolling through his iPod you head downstairs to where the smells are altogether more inviting.
We ordered the PaJeon, vegetable Mandoo Guk and the Bibimbap whilst sitting at the pokey bar downstairs, facing the kitchen.
The PaJeon was perhaps my favourite dish, a crispy, thick pancake that's dairy free (good for you vegans!). The dipping sauce was a pinch sour and vinegary and helped flavour the pancake slices. It was comforting and moreish, and a little bland, but good in the way that some 'plain' flavoured things sometimes are.
The vegetable Mandoo Guk was a clear, light broth bathing a selection of vegetables and three large dumplings. The dumplings were notable for their freshness and thin delicate skin, allowing for a greater emphasis on the taste of the vegetables within as opposed to the stodgy taste of dough.
The Bibimbap was not of the hot stone variety, which in the summer months is probably a very good thing. The rice was well cooked and tasted good when mixed with the egg and vegetables. Its accompanying sauce added a subtle edge to the dish, neither being too spicy or too salty. The kimchee was crunchy in places and went well with everything.
The prices were very reasonable and the staff were all very nice, especially the kitchen staff, who looked a little out of place amongst the throngs of tattooed, black dressed, bearded (the guys), bra strap showing (the gals) young scene-sters. Not that I care about the hot talent on parade in bars these days, it's the hot dishes I'm looking for to satiate my appetite, and after visiting No Name, satiated I was.
Love it here. Â Love the decor on the inside and the garden outside. Â It's such a great place to go with friends and meet new people; the whole atmosphere is chill and friendly.
I'm knocking off a star for the bad A/C mentioned in other reviews, but in the Winter, it will be a non-issue. Â Unless I gain 300 pounds. Â Then I'll probably want an air conditioner during Winter.
Very hip and that's fine, we are in Greenpoint after all.
The only minus to this joint is that the canned beer should be a dollar less. I expected to receive a Naragansett tall boy for $5 and was instead given a regular can of Rhode Island's finest beer. Disappointed on that end.
Their draft list, while small, is effective and the prices are not too high compared to other Brooklyn establishments.
The backyard is awesome. I would come back only for that purpose. To come all the way from my Carroll Gardens apartment up to Greenpoint on a regular basis would be silly but for taking out of towners or meeting up with folks on the northern part of the borough, I will definitely consider No Name Bar.
Heads up: For a weeknight, it was rather crowded so keep that in mind if you go on the weekend.
I really want to like this place more, but it has some big strikes against it.
The good: it's adorable, it has a good-sized backyard, and it has a delicious Korean restaurant in the basement. Also, the service is pretty good.
The bad: the AC is terrible, there are mosquitoes all over the place out back after dark, and the drinks and the food are too expensive (especially the food).
Specifics on the food: the bibimbap isn't stone pot, but it's still pretty delicious. Also got the heavy beef soup, which was great, but wow what a mistake on a hot summer day. Really wish they'd had some good AC going.
Stumbled upon this den of hipsterdom while vacationing in the city. The fact that this place doesn't even have a name is reason enough to hate it, but I was won over the tasty eats and serenely idyllic outdoor space. Kimchi-embedded pa jun was sensational, and the pork dumplings/pot stickers weren't half-bad either. Was also intrigued by the dimly lit interior space of the noodle bar downstairs. Definitely gets points for atmosphere.
Review Source:I've only been a resident of Greenpoint for 4 weeks so take my review with a grain of salt but I think no bar here symbolizes this neighborhood better than No Name. Hidden from plain sight this oasis of tranquility has become my favorite neighborhood destination. The backyard is calm and soothing just like the neighborhood with locals congregating for a drink and a smoke.
You don't get the ridiculousness of Williamsburg in terms of atmosphere which is great but you still get some of the vibes. Perfect place to enjoy a spring or summer evening with some friends to relax. By far my favorite bar so far in all of Brooklyn.
I like this place on a weekday. Back yard is so nice now that the weather's nice. The inside is a little dark and gets really crowded sometimes. Sometimes they have a dj playing metal which isn't my cup of tea but fits the general atmosphere well. I definitely go here a lot but I try to avoid the weekends.
Review Source:This bar is fine for what everyone else's reviews highlight. Loses a star because one of the bartenders/barbacks has such terrible body odor that I gagged every time he walked by. He needs to shower before they let him in front of customers. I'm literally sitting at the bar at the moment and don't need to look up to tell whether or not he is near me.
Review Source:Great bar with a solid noodle shop downstairs. There are only a couple beers on tap (and they were out of 1 when we were there), but the selection was decent. Â Not sure about non-beer choices, since my group was only drinking beer.
As others have said, it is fairly small and cramped inside. Â If there are more than 3 or 4 in your group, I doubt you'd be able to all find a spot. I could also see this being a very uncomfortable bar if it was crowded, given the narrowness of the room. However, for us it was perfect. The three of us were able to sit in one of the booths across from the bar without a problem. Â There was music, but it was at that perfect level where it's creating ambient noise w/o distracting from conversation.
If you're ordering food, you need to place your order and pay at the bar and then take your order slip downstairs. Also, you can only eat downstairs or in the back area of the bar. However, the downstairs is even tinier than upstairs, so if it's a busy night I imagine finding somewhere to eat is nearly impossible.
Bartenders were nice enough, music was good. (Maybe they were nice to us because we liked their music, I don't know).
Beer was overpriced for the most part. The bar was packed, making it really hard to actually relax. This was in the late fall, so outdoors was not a good option due to the cold.
I had no idea there was food.
It is a very Greenpointish hipster place. So go, if you like that sort of thing, I guess.
Asshole bar tenders. Asshole bar tenders. Asshole bartenders.
It's quite unfortunate that a business owner could so perfectly hire such a slew of bitchy bartenders because the place would be alright otherwise.
Good fresh hand pulled noodles now in the basement that I'd give 4 stars alone to if the rating were based on that. Decent back yard (warm months) and most of the nights the music is pretty good, so you can see the shame in the -8 star rating the bartenders bring to off set the positive star rating, keeping it barely above freezing at a whopping 1 star.
If you're drunk enough late night to endure some bad vibes but good Tecate with lime juice, stop in
I have been on two dates here (with two different people-- haha, tip your bartender WELL!) and this place is a solid choice each time.
I have only gone on weeknights-- and it is a great experience. Â Both times, we were able to snag a booth along the wall facing the bar, which is a perfect set up. Â The booths are one-sided, so you have to sit next to each other, and there are little dividers from booth to booth. Â A candle is on each table, and you order at the bar.
It's no-fuss, cozy, and fun. Â They're always playing great music, so if you end up at an awkward silence, you can just sing along to the Cars or whatever. Â It's great. Â Always a fan of diversion. :)
The noodles downstairs are great, too. Â What a genius setup-- you definitely have to get the noodles if it's your first time here. Â They're perfectly seasoned. Â But beware! Â They're served with polished chopsticks, so you might want to practice before your date watches you fumble around with slippery noodles. Â Unless you're like me and don't care.
Really, though, a great bar experience. Â Sometimes I wonder what the big deal is about Greenpoint, and why so many people are flocking there. Â Then I come to places like this and understand.
I want to go on another date here!!!!!
Like many bars in this great city- AMAZING in the daytime, but a total clusterfuck on weekend evenings.
Swing through here ( if you can find it ! nyuk nyuk ) on a weekday afternoon, kick back in their phenomenally spacious backyard, enjoy their generous happy hour, maybe even grab some ramen downstairs at Noodles. Â You will likely be loving life.
If its a Friday night, dont fux wit it.
By far the best outdoor space I've experienced in the New York area. It's HUGE - our birthday party of 10+ had no problem finding seating - and the crowd is relaxed and friendly. Also, there is a big beautiful tree inside the courtyard. With lanterns!
It would be nice if they had a waiter to bring drinks outside - or maybe another bar? As is you have to go up a flight of steps to order inside. A minor inconvenience for a laid back evening, though I imagine the stairs could get tricky after enough drinks.
So far, I love everything up this place. It's not insane bar atmosphere, but its a nice place you can chill whatever the occasion. There are seats at the bar, there are seats on the wall opposite a bar... benches with tables in front. Then, what's awesome...the giant backyard area including swing!
Another thing you should definitely do is grab a bite to eat downstairs. The food is AMAZING. I had the squid ink noodles with calamari. I'm going back for the lamb dish and the oxtail soup. There's only a few options, which means after a while you'll have tried them all!
beautiful outdoor space. perfect for grabbing a drink with some friends on a sunny late afternoon.
i also love the fact that this place has no name, it's different, intriguing, and memorable (ironically).
the bartenders are really attentive, i don't feel like i need to wave them down to get their attention like i have to do at some other bars. they definitely make you feel comfortable and for that i applaud them.
Noodles again and again.
Wishes:
One or two more bartenders on deck.
Bar outside or downstairs - a secret, speakeasy one.
To-go noodles for when I'm booze detoxing but want my gluten filled fix.
These noodles are soooooooo good: the sesame chili ones. And the greens are superlative - usually fresh kale in a sesame tahini sauce with garlic OMG. OMG. OMG.
Last night Matt and I talked in depth about our end of the world theories. Amongst them, notably he mentioned that the US "agreement" with the federal reserve is "up" on 12/12/2012 which is just a few days shy of our favorite date: 12/21/2012.
What else? Oh! Iceburgs (not the lettuce) - perhaps better spelled out as 'Icebergs' ? Ah, that did it. Down with the red squiggly lines as I write these reviews haphazardly.
This iceberg, yo. It's gonna CRACK! Then send a wave as the seas rise 14ft everywhere. He said it would happen in a matter of hours.
I told Matt about my recent end of days dreams: sky crackling, endless sunlight, and a moon that doesn't set nor wane... Creepy. I saw his eyes water in fear.
We confided in each other our not so secret wishes to see this all go down, in whatever format it may. How exciting! The end of the world is near....
And I just wish I could know with more CERTAINTY so that I could lavishly put these $10 noodles on my credit card EVERY SINGLE NIGHT until then... That fated date: 12/21/2012.
I want to like this bar (kind of), but it's just OK in my humble opinion. It's always too crowded and too loud and it always takes far too long to order a drink. I find it difficult to enjoy a place that one can't even walk through without grazing multiple body parts with other humans' multiple body parts.
The saving grace is the giant backyard, but it's usually packed, too, and closes at 1 a.m. I've never tried the ramen from the underground noodle bar, but I am told this does exist.
I still come here despite my feelings about it and have experienced some rather interesting moments.
The Diet Coke at No Name Bar was sufficient to my taste buds. The syrup was not overpowering with just the right amount of carbonation. I had about five of these beverages and I did not have even the slightest bit of flatulence.
There is an outdoor patio at No Name Bar with a pretty steep set of stairs that lead down to it. This is cool because if you sit in right spot you can get a great view of a woman's behind.
In my early years I didn't really appreciate a woman backside. I focused more on the bosoms and the wet spot. This all changed about six years ago when I ran into an ass that literally would not quit. This backside turned me upside down and instantly put a bulge in my pants. I tried many times replace that backside but it was an impossible task that I knew had no chance of succeeding. Â
A woman's backside is a wonderful place that I love to visit over and over again and I suggest you visit No Name Bar. It is a great place...... Not as great as a ladies behind... Â But hey not many things are so go check it out and find out for yourself.
Spurred by the Cheap Eats issue of NY Mag, we made the trek to Greenpoint on a Friday evening to try the noodles at No Name.
No Name is just as you would expect such an aplty named establishment--pretty much just another dive bar situated on Manhattan Avenue. But this bar boasts something most can't--a massive back yard, perfect for a summer evening. Another huge asset--delicious food. You ask for a menu at the bar, give the bartender your order, and take your ticket down to the basement, where the magical chefs will whip up unexpected deliciousness. The greens are dressed in a sublime sauce, with morsels of savory bacon hidden within the leaves. The lamb noodles are succulent and rich, and I don't even normally like lamb.
It's worth a trip, though I'd save it for a nice evening when you can sit out in the yard and enjoy your noodles in the fresh air.
Honestly, the best part of this bar is the backyard. Its spacious, beautifully  lit (aka DARK), and I love the huge tree. The rest of No Name is just mehhhhhh for me. The interior is SO NARROW its impossible to walk through without bumping into every person inside, and trust me it gets crowded here. There's usually one or two bartenders working so the bar gets very busy and the service is slow. I want to love this place but I just can't.
Review Source:dear lord,
have no mercy on this terrible establishment. Â smite it down with your awesome and terrible power.
alcohol, for me, is a very desirable thing. Â i like it, it makes me happy. Â i like it almost as much as watching episodes of seinfeld over and over again. Â bartenders are people who possess alcohol. Â when i go to a bar, i expect bartenders to be kind and understanding, and to share with me the alcohol that they possess so that i may become happy. Â at most establishments, this is works out quite well - i wait at a bar for a reasonable amount of time until i catch the eye of the busy and hardworking bartender, until they come over to me and kindly ask me what type of alcohol i would like to drink. Â i tell them, and they bring the alcohol and then i thank them and pay them money. Â i even tip them for their kindness, since they possessed something that i desired, and were kind enough to share it with me. Â this is how bars function.
for some reason, the bartenders at "no name bar" have challenged the natural order of things. Â they treat their positions as possessors of desirable alcohol quite lightly. Â for example, imessaging/readingthehuffpost/wordingwfriends while many people are trying to catch your eye can be frustrating for those people who are not you in the situation. this is potentially excusable - perhaps this iphonebartender was simply off shift, and still hanging behind the bar. Â if that was the case, then i apologize. Â however, the other bartenders' behavior was far more egregious. Â i would get into the specifics, but it makes me too sad to replay the events in my head, or even to continue to dedicate thought to "no name bar." Â well, i suppose it is too late to give up entirely.
so i'll just speed things up a bit...
dear mr/ms owner of "no name bar". Â please instruct your bartenders on how to serve alcohol. Â perhaps teach them bar jargon such as "open a tab," "close my tab," and "allagash". Â they do not seem to understand these words. Â worse yet, they are quite rude to the patrons of your nameless bar. Â they are aware that patrons desire alcohol, and sadistically deny them of it. Â they seem to get a kick out of this.
lastly, to all of the people out there who, like me, desire and enjoy alcohol, i say this: Â i know that this is a good place to pick up pretty men/women. Â but remember john waters: "If you go home with somebody, and they don't have books, don't f&$@ 'em!" Â well, if you meet somebody, and they are at "no name bar," don't f&$@ 'em! Â it is a poor reflection of their character.
I came here recently for a quick post-work pre-dinner drink. It was quiet and lovely at that time of day. We sat out back and a seed-pod thing fell directly out of a tree and into my date's beer - plop! - we laughed, but beware the falling foliage I guess?
As others have mentioned, the back yard is the attraction here, I don't know if I would bother if it was cold or rainy, but they do have some excellent choices on tap at not-bad prices.
No Name Bar has a nice back yard. It's the biggest back yard I've ever seen at a bar in Brooklyn, and it's gorgeous. It was a bit nippy out last night, but I bet the summer here is amazing.
This bar also has $3 Genesses and $4 Yuenglings, which is great, because otherwise most drinks are just about a dollar overpriced. However, mixed drinks are totally reasonable - my roommate was paying $6 for vodka sodas. The bartenders are fine, they do a great job of serving everyone quickly, but they're mainly all business.
When I came back in after a while of being outside, it had suddenly gone from being a bar-bar to being a sexy dance club where white kids in metalhead outfits were getting down to club music. I was a bit taken aback but held my resolve to be fair to places I wouldn't frequent on my own. But I am seriously always pretty uncomfortable around middle class white kids co-opting r&b and stuff like that. And that's pretty much what was going on - it was very middle class and though not entirely white, it was a fairly uniform scene made up of the hip kids of Greenpoint. *shrug*
I prolly wouldn't come back on my own, but if my roommates wanted to hang out in the backyard of No Name Bar sometime this summer, I wouldn't be opposed. I also bet this place is a lot cooler when it's not Friday night.
I simply love No Name. It's a neighborhood staple, good on cozy winter nights or in the backyard on warm summer evenings. I've never really been here on Friday or Saturday nights before 1AM, but I think that perhaps instinctively I know that this place is probably elbow to elbow barfbags and I naturally stay away.
The bartenders are laid back and set the tone for the entire place. It doesn't matter if it's a high or low energy night, No Name is best enjoyed chilled, so check your attitude and be prepared to just kick it and soak in the vibe. No Name is the place you want to be after a long day, and seems to be a welcome respite from the Manhattan Inn crowds.
No Name doesn't really lend itself to comfort. Actually, it pretty much only lends itself to claustrophobia, with its unreasonably narrow main area - throw in some coked out hipsters dancing at the bar and you can probably forget about taking your Ok Cupid date to check out the back patio for a while. I won't come here on a weekend if I can avoid it, because although yeah I live in NYC I hate most people and try to avoid crowds (though I usually can't because I and most of my friends live down the street so NN has become kind of our go-to spot).
That said, the drinks are good.. a good, stiff pour every time for mixed drinks (once you can get the bartender's attention, of course - they seem to be consistently understaffed and I'm pretty sure this one time I went in the bartender was either new and in training, or completely stoned, maybe both). Bartenders are friendly enough (meaning they're not assholes who pour watered-down drinks).
They could stand to play a little less Black Sabbath and Led Zeppelin - every time I walk in there it's one of the two, with maybe some Stones thrown in. It's getting old. C'mon guys, it's not the East Village... try to be a little more creative. Maybe take a cue from Manhattan Inn down the street? I realize they pay a DJ to spin there but still..
Anyway, overall a good experience every time I've been there, save for one time where I waited 15 minutes for a bartender to acknowledge me before I walked out and went to Enid's instead. And they take credit cards...!!! They do have a sick back patio, which is probably larger than two or three of the interiors combined; definitely worth checking out when it gets warmer out.
Shh....
The bartender was spinning Neil Young's After the Gold Rush when I arrived, and he moved on to Black Sabbath, then Hank Williams. The volume was just right.
They have Guinness on tap and the lovely aged wood interior seemed to minimize the harsh noises one finds in poorly-designed bars. In all, this bar is conducive to listening to good tunes while drinking or having a conversation. I will be coming back.
Keep it like a secret.
I know I like a place when the exterior looks like a charred-by-fire cabin and there's no business sign. Definitely a plus for urban decay explorers.
Once you've overcome your hesitation and trespass through the door though, you'll find something altogether different.
The inside is more like a cozy train car (not in its decor, just in the space). It's looooong with bar seating and then has small booths on the other side of the aisle. The only place for larger groups to stand is at either end of the bar (still not a lot of room). Sometimes these erupt into awkward dancing pits or make-out sessions.
The outside has a giant tree lit up with a few Chinese lanterns which already gets a toast in my book. There's a little gazebo type thing with a wooden base that you can sit on any which way you like. Lots of chairs are stacked up on the side so you can pull them out and arrange a space as you wish (good for the anal retentive architect in you - we would call it 'flex space').
Most of the clientele is mid-twenties to mid-thirties, dressed mostly in black. Not a tattoo'ed rocker vibe at all (for better or for worse). Bar seems nice and queer friendly - also a plus. Great place to just people-watch. Gets busy on Friday and Saturday nights but you can push through the crowd. Other nights are far from deserted so there's a good hum in the air.
Evan Williams is their well whiskey which already isn't a bad deal. Drinks are average sized but strong. Bartenders are efficient and aware of their surroundings (good for a short lass like myself who usually gets cut in front of about a dozen times before getting to order). Ten dollar minimum on credit cards.
Music, by my taste, is ok but not great. The music on Friday night has a lot of 80s hits mashed up with more contemporary stuff to entice dancing. I can take it or leave it.
As others have mentioned, the outside is the star of the show (would make this bar four stars). Not sure how I'd feel about it in the winter without it (hence the three stars of not feeling completely at home inside). But until then, this place will be where I get my libations.
It's funny if you ask the bartender what is the name of this place, he tells you LLC something yada yada. Â Really? Â No I just mean the name. Â Oh, "no name bar" I guess. Â LOL
With no sign for a Manhattan venue, it makes a place speakeasy chic. Â It just means word of mouth will just travel faster. Â But it's really not underground, it usually means upscale. Â I can't say it's *THAT* much different on Manhattan Avenue, but it sure makes it a lot harder to find! Â
What I like about this place is they made a damn good old fashioned, and well besides that, there are a damn lotta cuties here. Â Even my date pointed out there are tons of cute young girls here. Â Wow, ok!
Next time I go hopefully it won't be 95 at night, and I can checkout the garden in the back!
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